Shabaab case postponed after killing of witness

Some of the 70 suspects arrested inside Masjid Musa, shown after appearing in a Shanzu court on February 12, 2014. A case in which an Al-Shabaab suspect is charged with attempted murder was postponed after a key witness was shot dead. PHOTO / LABAN WALLOGA.

What you need to know:

It was the third time the gang had tried to kill the man, who was the suspect's father-in-law.

A case in which an Al-Shabaab suspect is charged with attempted murder was postponed after a key witness was shot dead.

The court put off the case facing Mr Omar Bakari, alias Budget, following the death of the key witness, Mr Swaleh Mwakuyumba.

The witness was shot by a gang in his house at Mbuwani village in Ukunda on Saturday. Police blamed Al Shabaab for the death.

It was the third time the gang had tried to kill Mr Mwakuyumba. Mr Bakari is charged with attempting to kill Mr Mwakuyumba, his father in-law.

On Tuesday, principal magistrate Elizabeth Usui postponed the case to April 29.

FIRST FIGHT

Ms Usui said the court had been forced to change the mention date after learning of Mr Mwakuyumba’s death.

“The deceased was among the people who were to testify,” said Ms Usui.

According to acting prosecutor Peter Muiruri, Mr Bakari shot Mr Mwakuyumba three times in both shoulders and his waist after a confrontation between them.

Mr Mwakuyumba survived the attack and he was supposed to appear before the court and give his testimony.

Lawyer Abdulrahman Aminga, appearing for the accused, agreed to the postponement but expressed his concerns that the case was taking a new direction.

Mr Aminga said that if the prosecutor connects his client to the death, then the case will have to be moved to the High Court.